A Daily Devotion for Thursday, Sept. 18

Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. Apriest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

One of the unique and challenging aspects of walking the Camino is that it is really not a solitary activity. One would need to make an effort to not engage with anyone along the way. And although we have not come across any dramatic needs for help, we are constantly being helped by others or offering small gestures to assist. Today we stopped at a rest area with a “font” for water. The water was really cold and a man suggested to me to just wash my face in it. He shared, “I feel a lot better, it is so refreshing!” There was a pump handle, and I tried pumping it, but nothing came out. He got up and came over, showing me that the pump needed to be primed with water first (there were water bottles filled next to the faucet for this purpose.) the water started to come out with the man pumping, and I washed my face and thanked him. He also pointed out that we needed to refill the priming bottle for the next person. I was standing there dripping when a young man came up and was struggling to hold his bottle under the faucet and pump at the same time, so I pumped for him. Then I took out my bottle to fill, and he said, “Now it’s my turn,” and he pumped for me. It was a series of small interactions, all between total strangers, but I will never forget how that cooperation felt. I don’t know where they live, who they voted for, or what church they do or do not attend. It feels nice when people are just good to each other.

Holy Lord, I am so very thankful for the opportunities you are putting in my path. Continue to teach me, I pray, how to be more like Jesus.

Becky, transforming